Hundreds of timber workers across Australia will vote in a demerger ballot, which, if successful, will see the establishment of a new Union – the Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU).
The secret ballot, to be organised by the Australian Electoral Commission, opens today (the 24th of February 2025) and will run through to the 14th of April. Currently, unionised timber workers (including those making pulp and paper products) are members of the CFMEU Manufacturing Division – with members voting to leave the union to establish the TFTU.
“We expect a high voter turnout and a big ‘YES’ vote to demerge from the CFMEU”, according to Michael O’Connor, the National Secretary of the CFMEU’s Manufacturing Division, who said members across the country no longer want to be associated with the CFMEU Construction Division, “which is always in the news for the wrong reasons.”
“Our members have been clear; they want to leave the CFMEU and are pleased to be voting ‘YES’ to become the TFTU,” said Ms Alison Rudman, Secretary of the NSW District of the CFMEU’s Manufacturing Division. “They are looking forward to the TFTU having a laser focus on the issues that impact all our members, like wood supply, recognition of their skills, and the protection of timber jobs in timber towns.”
Wood Central understands that the TFTU would become the second new union (after the Mining and Energy Union, which left the CFEMU in 2023) and comes after Jacqui Lambie championed legislation – supported by the Albanese government and Liberal National Party Coalition – ultimately giving timber members the right to leave the CFMEU. “The legislation that gave members this right was supported by all MPs except the Greens,” Ms Rudman said.
- For more information about the challenges around the Australian wood supply, click here for Wood Central’s special feature from last year.
